Stowelink has been making an impact and reaching out to so many in different social media platforms. As we celebrate the sixth month of the project, here are some of the insights discussed in the animated videos shared.
In April, the first video shared was one with information about the link between Covid-19 and NCDs. The animated video, which was episode number 13 of the NCDS 365 Phase Two, explained what Covid-19 is. It stated that it is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus strain in 2019. It is commonly spread by coughing and sneezing, personal contact and contact with infectious surfaces. The link with NCDs was clearly established as older people and those with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancer were more likely to develop serious illnesses such as coronavirus. In Week 14 and 15, the link between covid-19 and diabetes and covid-19 and cancer respectfully were discussed.
The last video of April was aimed at showing ways of protecting your mental health during the covid-19 pandemic. Tips such as not attaching the disease or nationality/ethnicity/race of a person when referring to people with covid-19, minimizing exposure too much news about covid-19 that causes you to feel anxious (seek information only from trusted sources) and finding opportunities to amplify positive and hopeful stories of local people who have experienced the condition.
In May, the first video of the NCDS 365 phase two shared various tips to staying healthy as a patient living with NCDS during Covid-19 pandemic. The next animated videos were aimed at sensitizing on cardiovascular diseases. Week 18 had information on what cardiovascular diseases were being shared. The diseases were said to be a general term for conditions affecting the heart or the blood vessels. May Measurement Month which is a global campaign initiated by the International Society of Hypertension was also mentioned. During the campaign, volunteers around the world measure people’s blood pressure as a means of creating awareness on hypertension.
Risk factors to cardiovascular diseases were discussed in week 19. They were divided into modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Modifiable were those that could be changed, for example, lifestyle factors such as smoking and eating habits while non- modifiable risk factors were unchangeable, for example, age and ethnicity. The last animated video in May talked about the major types of cardiovascular diseases. The diseases were Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, Peripheral Arterial Disease and Aortic Disease.
To learn more visit the NCDs Champions page on YouTube. Cheers.
Stowelink Inc 